CSHCA Safety Committee Minutes 9-21-21

In attendance: Jennifer Deabler (co-chair), Dianne Lescinskas (co-chair), Donna Blythe-McColgan, Bill Brennan, Doreen Miller (minutes), Heidi Moesinger, Des Rohan, Mike Szkolka

Updates

• Unable to reach Trooper Richardson – unresponsive. Will go higher up.
• Columbia Road, Buttonwood Street and associated parks – update from Patrick Ford (Nick Collin’s office)
  • Maintenance and cleaning have been put on a regular schedule.
  • Patrick has reached out to DCR and MA DOT regarding longer projects
  • BTD claims they do not have a “flashing” stop sign for Buttonwood.
    • The chairs will revisit this with the commissioner re: a solar sign or a reflective sign.
  • New sidewalks are being installed by Sharon Park with possibly new crosswalks.
• Other Concerns along Columbia Road
  • Chaotic school drop offs in the morning.
    • Cars stopping in the middle of the street backing up traffic.
    • Too much for crossing guards to handle – people ignore them.
    • Request a trooper to direct traffic at the schools in the morning.
    • Continue to reach out to the schools for a better solution to traffic flow through their parking lots. Ideas include:
      • Staggered start times
      • No staff parking until students are in the building to allow cars to drive through and exit the rear instead of turning around
• Crosswalk by the tennis courts on Grampian Way – update from Julie Ryan (Frank Baker’s office)
  • BTD says no crosswalk can be installed because there are no traditional sidewalks there.
  • Frank Baker is pushing to have sidewalks installed for next summer to make a crosswalk possible there.
• Many departments have been unresponsive to outreach attempts by the chairs.
• The chairs will reach out to George Huynh, the community liaison, to invite him to our next meeting to address concerns.
• Slow Streets/Vision Zero
  • Our application is still active and “on file” for the next round of approval.
  • Generally, only a few neighborhoods are chosen at a time.
  • Pleasant Street area Slow Streets is in the works.
    • It is scheduled to be done sooner rather than later.
    • The chairs will reach out to try to get a timeline on this.
• Weedy/Disgraceful “Welcome to Dorchester” sign
  • A picture was sent to Frank Baker’s office.
  • Refer this issue to the Beautification Committee to deal with.
• Police reports at the general meeting
  • Request Officer Keamy report important trends only.
  • Invite Officer Keamy to the Safety committee meeting.
    • Email members to submit concerns and questions ahead of time for him to address.
    • He can either attend in person on zoom for a deeper discussion of the issues or submit his reports and answers to the questions.
    • The Safety committee can then pass on important trends at the general membership meeting.
    • His presence at the Safety Committee meeting might increase community engagement.
    • Mike Szkolka will call Officer Keamy and invite him to the next Safety meeting.
• Other concerns
  • Can we get temporary speed humps in strategic locations?
    • Only possible through the Slow Streets Initiative.
    • Jennifer will revisit this and research any temporary measure we can install to slow traffic.
  • Northbound Morrissey Boulevard speed limit signage missing between the X-way off-ramp and the lights at Bianculli Boulevard.
    • The chairs will reach out to Senator Collins and Representative Hunt.
  • Crosswalk needed at Old Colony Terrace and Savin Hill Avenue
    • Some cars do not stop to allow people to cross.
    • It will send the message that cars are entering a residential area and need to be conscious of pedestrian safety.
    • The chairs will reach out to Councilor Baker’s office to request a crosswalk be installed there.

Next Safety Committee Zoom Meeting: Tuesday, October 19, 7 PM